Farmer running for east Arkansas congressional seatLITTLE ROCK— A "semi-retired" rancher and farmer who hasn't sought political office before said Tuesday he's challenging an Arkansas Republican congressman as a Democrat next year. Mike Nelson said he is seeking the party's nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Rick Crawford in the 1st Congressional District. Crawford has held the seat since 2010 and is seeking re-election next year. Nelson, 48, criticized the House-backed legislation Crawfo...

Police arrest suspect in fatal shooting of Arkansas officerNEWPORT— A suspect has been arrested in the killing of a decorated northeast Arkansas police officer who was fatally shot while assisting another officer with a traffic stop, police said. Arkansas State Police said Newport Police Lt. Patrick Weatherford, 41, died at a hospital Monday night after the shooting in Newport, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. Newport police told Jonesboro television station KAIT that a person...

Arkansas airport prepares for $6.6 million in improvementsROGERS— An Arkansas airport will briefly close to allow for a $6.6 million construction project for runway, lighting and drainage improvements. Rogers Executive Airport manager David Krutsch tells the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette that the airport is scheduled to be closed for construction from June 23 through July 3. Rogers Airport Commission member Gary Jackson says three construction crews will be working around the clock, weather per...

2 small earthquakes recorded in northwestern ArkansasBERGMAN — The U.S. Geological Survey says two small earthquakes, the largest being magnitude 3.6, were recorded in northwestern Arkansas. The USGS says the 3.6 magnitude quake struck at 7:40 a.m. Sunday and a 2.4 magnitude temblor occurred 47 minutes later, both near Bergman, about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock. The USGS says the larger quake was felt as far away as Memphis, Tennessee, about 185 miles (298 kilometers) to ...

Tyson recalls nearly 2.5M pounds of chicken productsLITTLE ROCK— Tyson Foods is recalling nearly 2.5 million pounds (1.1 million kilograms) of ready-to-eat breaded chicken due to an unlabeled allergen. The company, based in Springdale, Arkansas, says the recall was made after it was notified June 6 by a supplier that the bread crumbs Tyson received could contain milk. According to Tyson, the recall is limited to food-service customers and the products are not available for purchase in retail st...

Arkansas school gets $11M for infectious disease researchLITTLE ROCK — A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency is awarding the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences an $11 million federal grant for research on infectious diseases. The grant is from an arm of the National Institutes of Health, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2rSaoyZ ) reported. It's the second grant for a program that helps research on pathogens, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Mark Smeltz...

Arkansas asks to block subpoena for inmate's autopsy recordsLITTLE ROCK— Arkansas officials are asking a federal judge to block an effort to subpoena records related to the autopsy of an inmate who lurched and convulsed 20 times during his execution. The Arkansas State Crime Lab on Friday asked U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker to quash the subpoena issued by federal public defenders challenging the state's execution procedures. The lawyers want detailed records related to the death of Kenneth William...

Prosecutors won't seek death penalty in Searcy cold caseSEARCY — Prosecutors say they won't seek the death penalty for a man charged in the death of a Searcy man who disappeared more than 20 years ago. Brandon Lee Wheeler is charged with capital murder and abuse of a corpse in the death of Jarrod Green. Police say Green was reported missing in October 1994. A court affidavit says that detectives received information late last year about the possible location of Green's body, and Wheeler was arreste...

President Clinton's first Fayetteville home damaged in fireFAYETTEVILLE — Fire has heavily damaged a northwestern Arkansas house once occupied by former President Bill Clinton. Television station KHBS/KHOG reports (http://bit.ly/2rUVqXz ) that one person was inside the Fayetteville, Arkansas, home when the fire was reported early Thursday but safely escaped the flames. The Fayetteville Fire Department says the fire was contained to the carport area but the rest of the home sustained significant damage...

Arkansas State University trustees approve tuition increaseJONESBORO — Tuition and fees will go up 3.4 percent for students at Arkansas State University this fall. ASU trustees approved the fee increases Thursday. It'll now cost $8,478 for an undergraduate, in-state student taking 15 credit hours each semester. That's an increase of $240 from the previous school year. Trustees said Thursday that the tuition increase is needed to provide a quality education to ASU students. Tuition is rising at all Ark...

Conviction stands in killing of Arkansas real estate agentLITTLE ROCK— The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld the capital murder and kidnapping convictions of a man sentenced to life in prison for the 2014 killing of a real estate agent. The court on Thursday affirmed the conviction of Aaron Michael Lewis, who was convicted of luring Beverly Carter to fake home showing, then kidnapping and killing her. Prosecutors said Lewis targeted Carter in a failed ransom plot, believing she was a "rich broker." I...

Audit questions Arkansas secretary of state's trip to GhanaLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas secretary of state's trip to Ghana on a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission is under scrutiny from an audit. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jon Moore told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2rdbFgE ) on Thursday that Mark Martin's trip in November 2015 to expand export opportunities might not have been within the scope of his office's duties. According to Moore, the Arkansas constitution says the secre...

Fire damages former home of Bill ClintonFAYETTEVILLE -- Fire has heavily damaged a northwestern Arkansas house once occupied by former President Bill Clinton. Television station KHBS/KHOG reported that one person was inside the Fayetteville home when the fire was reported early Thursday but safely escaped the flames. The Fayetteville Fire Department said the fire was contained to the carport area but the rest of the home sustained significant damage. The home, built in 1957, is list...

Remains of 2 Arkansas veterans returned homeLITTLE ROCK — The remains of two Arkansas veterans killed in World War II and the Korean War have been found and returned to the state. Marine Pfc. Larry Roberts of Damascus and Army Pfc. Robert Mitchell of Searcy were among the about 80,000 service members still unaccounted for from the two wars, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2rECNZs ) reported. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which identifies remains of American militar...

Arkansas state trooper injured in I-40 crash is honoredLITTLE ROCK— An Arkansas State Police trooper who was critically injured in a head-on crash on Interstate 40 in western Arkansas is the state's Trooper of the Year. Cpl. Roy Moomey was presented with the award Thursday in Little Rock. Moomey was injured Aug. 8 when his patrol car was struck head-on by a westbound vehicle in the eastbound lanes of I-40 near Alma. State police say in a news release that Moomey was able to divert two vehicles fro...

Arkansas panel ends investigation over execution drugsLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Medical Board on Thursday voted to end its investigation into how drugs used to execute four inmates in April were obtained after the panel's attorney said he found no evidence that any doctors licensed by the state were involved. Last month, the board had said it was investigating the purchase of one of the drugs used in the state's first executions in nearly 12 years. But board attorney Kevin O'Dwyer said Thursday ...

El Dorado gears up for arts district's grand openingEL DORADO — A planned $100 million entertainment district in El Dorado has a new name as the city gears up for a grand opening later this year. The entertainment district will be called the Murphy Arts District. The first phase of the project is a music hall, amphitheater, restaurant and children's play area. The second phase is a $32 million renovation of the 1920s Rialto Theater plus the creation of a new art gallery, exhibition hall and art...

Police searching Arkansas landfill in Colorado killingBOULDER, Colo — Authorities are searching a landfill in Arkansas as they investigate the death of a Colorado woman whose partial remains were found in Oklahoma earlier this year. Police in Boulder, Colorado said Thursday that they've been looking for evidence in the landfill in Morrilton, Arkansas near Little Rock since Tuesday. They said the search is related to the killing of 25-year-old Ashley Mead but didn't elaborate on what they're looki...

Arkansas panel votes to take highway funding plan to votersLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Highway Commission voted Wednesday to pursue a ballot measure to fund road improvements, months after lawmakers refused to push for the money. Commission members said they're counting on support for highways among voters despite resistance among lawmakers to raise taxes or divert money going toward other needs. "I think it's a great option for us, the only option we have, because our Legislature and government leader...

Arkansas decides process for medical marijuana applicationsLITTLE ROCK— The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission has finalized the process for accepting applications for medical marijuana growers and sellers. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2r5BX4b ) reported the five-member commission developed a more detailed application scoring method Tuesday. The method breaks down 100 points that applicants can earn into sections. More than half the total points are in a section focused on operating...